A MINUSCULE WHITE AND BLACK JADE ‘TURTLE’ SEAL, MING DYNASTY China, 1368-1644. The square seal surmounted by a turtle with neatly incised carapace, the seal face deeply carved with a two-character inscription. The translucent stone of a white and grayish-black tone.

Inscriptions: To seal face, ‘Xichen’.

Provenance: Adrian M. Joseph, c. 2003. British private collection, acquired from the above. Adrian Malcolm Joseph started studying and collecting Chinese ceramics during the late 1950s. He published various important papers and books including Ming Porcelains: Their Origins and Development (1971) and Chinese and Annamese Ceramics found in the Philippines and Indonesia (1973). He and his wife Phyllis began collecting Japanese art in the late 1960s, initially acquiring ceramics from important dealers such as Shimojo in Tokyo. Joseph became a Director of Hugh Moss Ltd. in the 1970s.
Condition: Excellent condition with minor old wear and few tiny nicks, the stone with natural fissures, some of which may have developed into small hairline cracks over time.

Weight: 8.5 g
Dimensions: Size 1.9 x 1.9 x 1.3 cm

Auction result comparison: Compare a related green and brown jade seal, 1.8 cm square, dated 17^th-18^th century, also carved with a turtle, at Christie’s New York in Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art on 17 September 2010, lot 1076, sold for USD 6,250.

明代黑白玉龜鈕印
中國，1368-1644年。四方印，龜鈕，印面刻著二字。白色和灰黑色調的半透明玉料。

款識: 熹晨

來源: Adrian M. Joseph, 約2003年；英國私人收藏，購於上述收藏；Adrian Malcolm Joseph 在 1950 年代後期開始研究和收集中國陶瓷。他發表了多篇重要論文和著作，包括《Ming Porcelains: Their Origins and Development》（1971）和《Chinese and Annamese Ceramics found in the Philippines and Indonesia》（1973）。他和他的妻子Phyllis在 1960 年代後期開始收集日本藝術品，最初是從東京的 Shimojo 等重要經銷商處購買陶瓷。Joseph 在 1970 年代成為 Hugh Moss Ltd. 的董事。
品相: 狀況極佳，有輕微磨損，輕微細小的刻痕；有天然紋理的玉料，有些可能隨著時間的推移發展成細小的裂縫。

重量: 8.5 克
尺寸: 1.9 x 1.9 x 1.3 厘米

拍賣結果比較: 比較一件相近的十七至十八世紀綠褐色玉印，長寬1.8 厘米 ，龜鈕，見紐約佳士得 Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art 2010年9月17日 lot 1076, 售價USD 6,250。